This photo was found and featured in the Ross Gazette in January, and now the original of the photograph has kindly been donated by Michael and Daphne Jones, formerly of Ross-on-Wye.

The original has writing on the back, which labels the photo ‘Children’s Victory Party’.

Written is: “The Ross Members of the N.F.S. extend an invitation to all children residing in the urban district to a Tea Party and Entertainment to celebrate the Victory of our Forces in Europe which will be held in the premises of Messrs. Webb, Hall and Webb, Crofts Lane on Monday, May 14th, at 4 o’clock.

“Will the children please bring their own cups.”

Michael added that the Ross Fire Brigade organised the Tea Party, of which his father, Harold Jones, was a fireman. He dated the photo 1947-48.

Local historian, Mary Sinclair Powell had previously informed the Ross Gazette that the photograph was of a children’s party which took place in the ‘Jam Factory’ in Ross-on-Wye during the day. The factory was set up in World War I in the Crofts, where the new flats are now.

The Ross Gazette would love to hear from anyone who remembers the factory or collecting fruit from the hedgerows to take there.

According to www.ross-on-wye.com, the jam factory was opened during WWI on the site of the former Perkins and Bellamy Foundry, which had closed in 1900. It was located on Broad Street and was quite an extensive collection of buildings.

The front of the foundry was where Peacocks and the Dogs Trust store are now. The foundry then extended back into the Crofts.

Once the Perkins and Bellamy foundry closed, the building was empty for a while but then became used as part of the war effort to feed the population.